Tyrese Haliburton, the rising star guard for the Indiana Pacers, stood out like a sore thumb during WWE SummerSlam on Sunday. The historic event played out at MetLife Stadium—less than 10 miles away from Madison Square Garden. There, in June 2024, he’d already gone toe to toe in the boxing ring against fellow NBA player Jalen Brunson. Haliburton has been a huge WWE fan and has gone to shows in the past. This time, though, the establishment — and the anti-establishment — crowd was much more ambivalent about his presence.
Haliburton is still in the midst of rehabbing from surgery on a torn right Achilles. We spotted him on crutches while he participated in the gala. He suffered the injury early in Game 7 against the Oklahoma City Thunder, which ultimately sidelined him for the entire 2025-26 NBA season. In their second-round matchup against the New York Knicks last season, he was dominant—averaging 21 points, 10.5 assists and six rebounds per game. His monumental contributions led the Pacers to their first NBA Finals appearance since 2000.
During his SummerSlam cameo, Haliburton achieved a dream moment. In a surprise move, he passed off one of his crutches to WWE superstar John Cena, offering a little assistance himself. Cena then used it to strike Cody Rhodes during the main event, showcasing Haliburton’s willingness to engage with the entertainment spectacle despite his injury. Not everyone in the fandom rolled out a red carpet for him. When Haliburton walked through the New York crowd, he endured some considerable boos.
In a charming retort to the boos, Haliburton responded to the crowd with “I love you guys, too.” This feeling summed up his love for the game of basketball and the wrestling business and his commitment to getting closer along with the fans. His ability to make an appearance at such a high-profile event shows both his resilience and commitment to recovery.
Haliburton’s passion for sports heroes such as Kobe Bryant further influences his path. Bryant’s steadfastness in trying to walk off following his Achilles injury serves as motivation for Haliburton. He’s motivated by the need to get past where he is now.
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